Sinaloa Model Arrested in San Diego, Accused in Hitman’s Murder
San Diego, CA – Lidia Vanessa Gurrola Peraza, a model and influencer from Sinaloa, Mexico, was arrested October 9th in San Diego, California, and charged with frist-degree murder, according to journalist Ángel Hernández Díaz. The arrest stems from allegations connecting Gurrola to the 2024 murder of a hitman known as “El Chato,” reportedly a member of the Arellano Félix Cartel and with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Gurrola, 31, gained prominence as a beauty pageant winner – crowned at the 2011 Mazatlán Floral Games Festival and selected as one of the “10 most lovely women of the Mazatlán Carnival” in 2013 – and cultivated a social media presence showcasing an aspirational lifestyle of international travel and fashion. Her physical resemblance to Emma Coronel, wife of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has also drawn attention.
Recent reports indicate gurrola’s name surfaced in September 2024 in brochures allegedly linking her to the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, reviving scrutiny surrounding her connections. Authorities believe “El Chato” may have been Gurrola’s partner.
Gurrola is currently being held at the Las Colinas detention center. News of the arrest has surprised her followers, many questioning a potential relationship between the model and the alleged hitman. She has not posted updates to her social media accounts since the news broke.